George's homestead was about 1/2 mile north of the stever
cemetery, where he was living at the time of his death.
He homesteaded 120 acres in 1857, with the grant maturing
in 1877. The grant was signed by Rutherford B. Hayes,
President of the United States. In 1852, George purchased
forty acres from Emsley Wharton. Sarah Stever Miller,
George's granddaughter tells us that she has the original
papers.

On May 28, 1863, George was plowing the farm of his
mother south of the cemetery when he was shot and killed
by "bushwhackers".Bushwhackers were people who sided
with either the Union or Confederacy but were not in either
army. They were a dispictable lot to the local residents and
known to take advantage of the war to further their own interests.
The family thought the shooting was due to the fact that George
had hauled some supplies for the Confederate Army for hire.

Left with a large family, the widow, Hester Ann, continued
to operate the farm and care for her family. After George's death,
the Union soldiers took all the meat that Hester had for the
family table.

The family has passed to the younger generation the names of
those suspected of shooting George. When Peter and James Madison
returned to Missouri, after the war, two of the "suspects" left
the community. We will not list the names here.

Our uncle, James Benton Stever, told us of the incident.
He could remember it well. He was at that time living with
grandmother, Sarah Payton Stever. Someone heard the shot from
the gun. Then, shortly the horse came to the house dragging the
plow. Some of the family, probably James Madison, went looking for
George. When the report of his having been shot was brought to
his mother, Sarah, James Benton told of his remembering how she
wept and mourned.

The Civil War was a most trying time for the Stever family, as it
was for many persons in that area. We find among the old letters
this brief note, which gives some insight into the times.

"Jefferson Nimo and a Mr. Franklin was killed at the widow Wolf's
last friday nite. The court house in Marshfield is burnt. The feds
done it their selves. Everything in it was burnt except the safe.
Hell is aflote here and the devil is stering oar. J.T. have
received your letter. Rite now. March 2, 1864.",

Likely this note was to James Madison Stever, who was in Illinois,
since
it was among his letters. There is no signature or name on the note.

In a letter January 1, 1864, to James Madison Stever from his
mother and
sister, Margaret, they mention the great fire of November 1863.
Twenty-three homes had been burned. Then Sarah, his mother, talks
of how hard times are and there was nothing to be had, money or
not.

Franklin Stever served in the Union Army during the Civil
War, Co. M., 16th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, Volunteers. He
was mustered in Nov. 1, 1863 and mustered out, July 1, 1865. Both
actions were at Springfield, Missouri. He furnished his own horse
until April 15, 1865.

Franklin was known to the family as "Big" Frank Stever.
His military papers give his height as five feet and two inches!
So, the "Big" Frank was likely a nick-name, due to his short
stature.

Franklin first married Caroline Williams, June 17, 1865.
Caroline died March 3, 1908. There were no children. She is
buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dallas Co., Mo..

February 13, 1910, Franklin married Mrs. Sarah A. Bradbury.
To this union one son, Lee Anderson Stever, was born, June 16,1912.
In 1925, Sarah filed for and received a government pension for
Lee due to injuries he had sustained as a small boy. They were
last known to be in Central Point, Oregon. Our efforts to contact
Lee have been fruitless.

Franklin died at LaCygne, Kansas, where he lived with his
family and was buried in Stever Cemetery.

Sally Ann Stever married William York Knighten, March 11,
1878. She was Knighten's second wife. She died in 1894 and was
buried in Stever Cemetery. Her children were Minnie, Bogie, F.
Winton and Bertram. Minnie married William Albert Williams and
reared her family in the area of Buffalo, Missouri, where some
of her descendants now live. Bogie died at age 20 and is buried
in Knighten Cemetery by his father. Winton and Bertram migrated
to Springfield, Missouri. Winton's children died young. The only
living descendant of Bertram lives in California.

James Wesley Stever married Mrs. Sarah C. (Rogers)
Dooley. He reared his family in southern Dallas Co., later
migrating to Springfield, Mo., where he and several of his family
are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery.

Mary Luiza Stever married Charles H. (Shug) Amos. She
died in 1882, and was buried in the Stever Cemetery. She and
Amos had only one child, Charles. We have been unable to learn
anything about this family.

Tene Drusilla Stever married John Cline. She died in
1940 and is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Dallas Co., Missouri.
She and John had a large family, which they reared in the area
east and north of Charity, Mo.. Many of their descendants
still live in Dallas Co..

Henry Monroe Stever settled on his father's farm,
where he lived out his days. He was a hard working frugal man,
close with his finances, but honest. He married Mary Ann Mallard,
and they reared four children. Their descendants are in California
and Missouri.

Martin Van Buren Stever was killed by a team of runaway
mules at age fourteen. He is buried in the Stever Cemetery.

Delilia Caroline Stever married John Noe. They had one
son, Erastus. We know little about this family.

Richard Calhoun Stever never married. He lived on
twenty acres north and east of the Stever Cemetery. He was known
for his ability to with the violin and as a teller of tall tales.
It is reported that he collected the gold that the merchants in
Elkland aquired and then hid it on his land. There are a number
of stories about "buried treasures". On one occasion, it is
reported, he had a well drilled on his property. At the completion
of the work he ascertained from the driller the amount of the
charges, went into the woods and returned with the cash to satisfy
the claim. Numbers of people have searched the twenty acres seeking
"buried treasure". Did someone find anything? Who knows? The probate
record of his estate was very meager. In his older years the Cline
family, his sister's children, cared for him. He is buried in the
Bethel Cemetery, Dallas Co., Mo..

Amanda Angeline Stever married H. B. R. Pettit. She was
his second wife. Both she and her husband are buried in the
Stever Cemetery. Mr. Pettit was an ordained Baptist minister. The
Pettits reared a large family about two miles north of the Stever
Cemetery. Many of their descendants are still living in the area.